The Old Rectory Catfield
Great Yarmouth,
Norfolk
Bed & Breakfast
+44 (0)1692 580453
Visit owner's website
per night
Elegant house in the Norfolk Broads just six miles from the coast. Flower-filled gardens, swimming, tennis and an easy-going host
2 rooms
Rooms sleep 2
Children welcome
Pets welcome
Babies welcome
Your enquiry details
2 Guests 11 Nov 24 - 11 Nov 24
Direct with the owner
Visit the owner’s chosen website for availability, online booking or contact details.
Enquire through Sawday's
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What part does Sawday’s play?
£150 per night
The Experience
Penny’s ivy-clad rectory dates from 1825 and is tasteful, airy and bright. She loves to share her home with others and you’ll feel more like a friend than a guest. The beautiful garden opens for the NGS and there are 20 acres to roam.
Breakfast usually includes fruit, yogurt, homemade granola and a full English, enjoyed around the kitchen table or in the more traditional dining room – Penny lets you choose. She doesn’t usually cook for guests otherwise but can order in crab or lobster and you can make arrangements to use her well-equipped kitchen. Or head out for dinner – there are some good pubs and restaurants within three or four miles.
Settle next to the fire in the comfy sitting room and choose from piles of books and games, or watch a DVD in the TV room. In summer, there’s a bell tent you can sleep in with the stars peeping through the panels. The swimming pool is heated and there’s a field of friendly animals to meet, including pigs, goats, two horses and a donkey.
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We think you'll love
- Generous-spirited Penny and having the freedom of the house
- The peace and quiet, playing tennis, swimming (by arrangement)
- Making friends with the animals
You should know
- The local restaurants get full even on weekday evenings so you'll need to book in advance
- When Penny is away you'll be greeted and looked after by somebody else
Essentials
- Swimming pool
- EV charger
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Spa
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Bar
- Barbecue
- Licensed premises
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Accommodation
Pricing
- Nightly price
- £150
- Surcharges
- Singles £100.
- 2 Doubles
- £150
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Information
Booking information
- Check in
- Flexible
- Check out
- Flexible
- Other details
- Singles, £100 per night.
- Closed
- Christmas & New Year.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property
- Meals
- Pub, 4 miles.
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Reviews
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I first had the pleasure of staying with Penny in 2023. On my return I couldn’t wait to re-book and my second stay will certainly be leading to a third! From the moment you pull into the drive, Penny not only makes you feel welcome, but special. The accommodation is stunning, the facilities unrivalled and Penny’s generous hospitality surpasses anything I have ever experienced. Nothing is too much trouble, the breakfast divine & the feeling that you are staying with an old friend is a rare gift to be cherished. All this amongst a stunning back drop & perfect location - what more could you want.
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We have been lucky enough to return to Penny’s each summer for the last three years. The house and gardens are wonderful. Penny is the most welcoming host, making one feel absolutely at home. We have a young son who is totally beguiled by the animals, amazing toy room and space to breathe. We can’t wait to return next summer.
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Since returning home, The Old Rectory is feeling like a dream. Did the swimming pool and the tennis court really sit side-by-side with Gloria the goose, Ali and Arabella the gorgeous pet pigs and Ronnie the puppy? Yes, and our kitchen was stacked with alcohol, treats and chocolate we were expected to tuck into. Our three-generational girls' trip (aged 86, 46 and 13) was wonderful, all thanks to Penny, the woman behind it all, who really loved sharing her beautiful home and everything in it with huge fun and an unremitting dedication to ensuring we had a good time.
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This is a beautiful, comfortable and calming place to unwind. Penny gave us a delightful welcome and her recommendations of where to visit and eat were spot on. We certainly hope to return on our next visit to Norfolk.
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The most wonderful place we have ever stayed in England. Gorgeous house, beautiful grounds, wonderful breakfast. But what really makes it so special is the host, Penny. She made us feel as if we were old friends who had come to stay. She had all kinds of great recommendations for things to do, some of which we would not have done without her guidance and which turned out to be our favourite outings. Can't recommend this place highly enough. We hated to leave.
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A delightful stay at The Old Rectory for a week to explore the Broads. Penny is a mine of information and prepared a plan of campaign each morning to help us, whether discovering the marshes or walking on the coast, visiting Norfolk’s beautiful churches or finding the best places to eat. There is a lot of unfinished business for another time.
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This was our third or fourth stay at Penny's and once again it was heavenly. The house and grounds are beautifully maintained, the food is delicious, the animals are gorgeous, the pool is a perfect temperature, the facilities are fantastic but Penny is what makes this such a fantastic break. She is incredibly kind and generous and truly makes everyone feel so welcome. She is wonderful with the children, who all adore her and everywhere is so well stocked and organised that the mental load disappears as soon as I arrive! Couldn't recommend highly enough.
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The Old Rectory is a beautiful Victorian vicarage next to a gorgeous old Norfolk flint church located near the small village of Catfield. It is a very welcoming family home, set in beautiful grounds with a swimming pool, tennis court, patio with fire pit and a host of animals. Definitely child friendly but also suitable for adults wanting to explore the Norfolk Broads and beautiful beaches in the area. Penny is an excellent and generous host and the breakfast provision was delicious. The set up works well for small groups of friends and family. We hope to visit again next year.
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from Saskia [10 years old] I loved it here, playing with the dogs, feeding the pigs, swimming in the pool and Penny is very lovely. The last day I was there, I was very upset because we were leaving and I was allowed to eat with Penny and the dogs. This is my second stay at The Old Rectory. I would love to come back again next year.
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We stayed with our 10 year old daughter. The Old Rectory has everything you need to enjoy your stay: comfortable beds, lovely grounds, a tennis court, farm animals, friendly dogs, a heated swimming pool and a fully equipped kitchen than you can use. It is located away from busy places, but by car, it is only a short drive to the Broads, to nice villages and towns and to the seaside (we loved the seals in Horsey Gap). To top it all off, Penny is a lovely host who made us feel very welcome and the breakfasts are fabulous. We like staying it so much that this year was our second visit in a row.
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Saskia 10 years old: I loved staying at The Old Rectory, playing with the dogs, feeding the pigs and swimming in the pool. Penny is lovely and on my last day when I was a bit upset because we were leaving, Penny invited me to have breakfast with her and the dogs. This was our second visit and I really want to come back next year.
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We stayed at The Old Rectory with our 10 year old daughter. The place was great, with comfortable beds, lovely grounds, farm animals, playful dogs, a heated swimming pool and even tennis courts. It is located in a quiet area, but in the car it s only a short drive to the Broads, or the surrounding villages or the beach (we loved the seals at Horsey Gap). Penny is a wonderful host, who made us feel very welcome and who provided a delicious breakfast. We loved it so much that this was the second year in a row that we have come to stay.
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The Old Rectory was great, with large bedrooms, beautiful grounds, use of a large kitchen and sitting room. It's located in a quiet area, overlooking an old church and is a short drive to the sea, other villages and the Broads. Penny was a wonderful host, warm and welcoming, and provided a plentiful and delicious breakfast.
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We had a lovely, restful few days staying at the Old Rectory and exploring the area. There's lots to do for active people in this surprisingly quiet corner of Norfolk - great walking, beaches and cycling potential on quiet, flat lanes. Then tennis and the spotless, warm pool back at the house... Penny is a welcoming and generous host, and her breakfasts are the best.
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A Magical spot in Norfolk. 5 stars all round for the perfect relaxing getaway without having to deal with an airport. Breakfasts are legendary and the pool perfect. Can't wait to come back. Penny is the hostess with the mostess! Christo and Helena
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We new Sawday's from our vsit to the UK in 2018 and we were very content with the description and the pictures of the accomodations, so we decided to book again, this time in Norfork at the Old Rectory, with Penny. The Georgian House looks like the quintessenial English country house. It is tastfully refurbished but the charme and the details of the original house are still present. In the vast garden or park you find a heated swimmingpool. Penny is the natural host serving a fantastic fully cooked breakfast. The room was large with beautiful views to the garden. A really recommandation.
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Penny's warmth and hospitality exude from this beautiful house and the wonderful gardens. We stayed with our young daughter who loved everything, from the heated swimming pool and trampoline to the goats, ducks and gorgeous dogs. Penny's generosity meant we enjoyed hearty breakfasts, cakes with an afternoon cup of tea, and wine and beer of an evening. The guest kitchen makes it easy not to leave, however, there is much to do nearby if you want to explore The Broads, head to the beach, of try out the pubs in the villages close to Catfield. We can't wait to stay with Penny again.
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We were bowled over by how amazing Penny’s b and b is. With a 3-year-old we expected to be back for sleeps and out all day but we hardly left. It isn’t just the house- it was a perfect mix of animals, hospitality and the other guests! Penny goes well out of her way to make sure you really love your stay (even making a slime kitchen for the kids each day) and you never feel like a guest in her home- you feel at home! I can’t recommend this place enough. We will be back!
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Glorious. There is a real danger of this review turning into a soup of superlatives so I'm holding back and sticking with 'glorious' (can I add maximus?). During the entire stay I expected that surely one, small not so glorious aspect would show itself, but no, nothing. The house and grounds are spectacular, the rooms elegant and comfortable (oops, there I go....) and Penny is definitely Gloriosa maxima. We loved every moment at the old Rectory and cannot wait to go back. Our entire stay was magical. Thank you, Penny, huge thank you.
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Location
The neighbourhood
There are footpaths from the house that will take you for walks from 20 minutes to two hours long. The villages of Sea Palling and Waxham have unspoilt beaches and are 15 minutes down the road, as is Bewilderwood, a charming adventure park for children, and the outstanding East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden. Blickling Estate and Felbrigg Hall and Gardens are just over half an hour away.
Local points of interest from Penny Middleditch
- East Ruston Old Vicarage is one of the most remarkable and enjoyable gardens made in recent years. Created by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson, now over 20 years old and expanding at a rate of knots, it is a feast of formal design, and decorative exuberance
- The How Hill Estate is a study centre with a fine large, thatched Edwardian house set in acres of reed, marsh, woodland and a small broad, together with a marshman's cottage and three restored drainage mills.
- BeWILDerwood is a wild and imaginative adventure park with magical treehouses and a hint of intriguing characters. Parents are encouraged to play alongside their children, which makes for a fabulous and brilliantly exciting day out for the whole family!
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Introducing
Penny Middleditch
This has been a wonderful home for Penny and her family for many years. Penny is relaxed and friendly, loves animals and is a brilliant self-taught gardener.
I first had the pleasure of staying with Penny in 2023. On my return I couldn’t wait to re-book and my second stay will certainly be leading to a third! From the moment you pull into the drive, Penny not only makes you feel welcome, but special. The accommodation is stunning, the facilities unrivalled and Penny’s generous hospitality surpasses anything I have ever experienced. Nothing is too much trouble, the breakfast divine & the feeling that you are staying with an old friend is a rare gift to be cherished. All this amongst a stunning back drop & perfect location - what more could you want.